.NET Framework Essentials, 2nd Edition: Introducing the .NET Framework

Fully updated for Microsoft's official release, .NET Framework Essentials, 2nd Edition is an objective, concise, and technical overview of the new Microsoft .NET Framework for developing web applications and services. Specifically written for intermediate to advanced VB, C/C++, Java, and Delphi developers, .NET Framework Essentials, 2nd Edition is also useful to system architects and leaders who are assessing tools for future projects. The authors devote special attention to the writing of .NET components plus web applications and services. This book takes on all of the most important .NET Framework topics—from the underlying Common Language Runtime (CLR) to its specialized packages for ASP.NET, Web Forms, Windows Forms, XML and data access (ADO.NET). The authors survey each of the major .NET languages, including Visual Basic .NET, C#, and Managed C++, as well as MSIL, the intermediate language understood by the CLR. They've included working code samples in every .NET language. Compact and free of fluff or proprietary hype, .NET Framework Essentials, 2nd Edition is an outstanding value for experienced programmers and architects who need to get up to speed quickly. Cover 1 Table of Contents 3 Preface 5 Audience 5 About This Book 5 Assumptions This Book Makes 6 Conventions Used in This Book 7 How to Contact Us 7 Acknowledgments 8 1. .NET Overview 9 1.1 Microsoft .NET 9 1.2 The .NET Platform 10 1.3 .NET Framework Design Goals 11 1.4 .NET Framework 15 2. The Common Language Runtime 18 2.1 CLR Environment 18 2.2 CLR Executables 18 2.3 Metadata 23 2.4 Assemblies and Manifests 29 2.5 Intermediate Language (IL) 34 2.6 The CTS and CLS 36 2.7 CLR Execution 41 2.8 Summary 45 3. .NET Programming 46 3.1 Common Programming Model 46 3.2 Core Features and Languages 48 3.3 Language Integration 60 3.4 Summary 64 4. Working with .NET Components 66 4.1 Deployment Options 66 4.2 Distributed Components 75 4.3 COM+ Services in .NET 78 4.4 Message Queuing 89 4.5 Summary 92 5. Data and XML 93 5.1 ADO.NET Architecture 93 5.2 ADO.NET Benefits 94 5.3 Content Components 97 5.4 Managed Providers 109 5.5 DataSets and XML 119 5.6 Summary 129 6. Web Services 130 6.1 Web Services in Practice 130 6.2 Web Services Framework 131 6.3 Web Services Provider 141 6.4 Web Services Consumers 146 6.5 Web Services and Security 163 6.6 Summary 164 7. Web Forms 166 7.1 ASP 166 7.2 ASP.NET 167 7.3 The System.Web.UI Namespace 167 7.4 Web Form Syntax 175 7.5 ASP.NET Application Development 181 7.6 ASP.NET and Web Services 194 7.7 Data Binding and the Use of Templates 197 7.8 State Management and Scalability 202 7.9 Summary 207 8. Windows Forms 208 8.1 Introducing Windows Forms 208 8.2 The System.Windows.Forms Namespace 209 8.3 Windows Forms Development 214 8.4 Windows Forms and Web Services 236 8.5 Conclusion 236 A. .NET Languages 238 A.1 Microsoft-Supported Languages for .NET 238 A.2 Third-Party Languages for .NET 238 B. Common Acronyms 240 C. Common Data Types 243 C.1 Usage 244 D. Common Utilities 249 D.1 Assembly Generation Utility (al.exe) 249 D.2 Assembly Registration Utility (gacutil.exe) 250 D.3 MSIL Assembler (ilasm.exe) 250 D.4 MSIL Disassembler (ildasm.exe) 251 D.5 C++ Compiler (cl.exe) 251 D.6 C# Compiler (csc.exe) 251 D.7 Visual Basic Compiler (vbc.exe) 252 D.8 PE File Format Viewer (dumpbin.exe) 252 D.9 Type Library Exporter (tlbexp.exe) 253 D.10 Type Library Importer (tlbimp.exe) 253 D.11 XML Schema Definition Tool (xsd.exe) 254 D.12 Shared Name Utility (sn.exe) 255 D.13 Web Service Utility (wsdl.exe) 255 Colophon 257 An overview of .NET programming fundamentals covers CLR, ASP.NET, Web forms, Windows forms, XML, ADO.NET, VB.NET, C#, and Managed C++.